Richardson



G. S- RiCHARDSON.

Fruit-Gatherer.

N 61,257. Patented Jan. 15, 1867.

Witnesses= I inventor: WXW 7 gnitrh tetra gaunt @ffim.

GEORGE S. RICHARDSON, OF STOW, OHIO. Letters Patent No. 61,257, dated January 15, 1867.

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TO ALL -WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, G. S. RIoHARDSoN, of Stow, in the county of Summit, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit Pickers and I do hereby declare that the following is a complete description of the construction of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawinw a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the picker.

Figure 2 is a front view of the same.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the views.

This picker consists of a framework of wire, and is constructed as follows: hoops, which may be of brass, iron, or any other material of a suitable character. These rings are connected to each other, in the position shown in the drawing, by the wires B B. The guard-wires B are of unequal length, being shorter near the front than at the side, the reason of which will be shown hereafter. The wir B reach above and curve over the sides of the ring towards the front, covering about one-half its di t These curved wires or fingers form collectively a claw, O, the fingers of which may be more or less i number thereby making the distance between them greateror less, according to the size of the fruit to be pick d, I; will be seen that the several wires, together with the rings or hoops, form a sort of has and which can be easily seen through. D is a bag or sleeve attached to the liottom of in length more or less, as circumstances may require. I

The manner of using the picker is as follows: It is fixed to the end of a rod, E, the length according to the height of the fruit from the ground. By inserting the end of the rod into the socket rings F the upper ring being a little smaller than the lower one, prevents the rod from slipping through, ,1; h time it holds it securely while in use. The operator, standing upon the ground, reaches u nd h k h claw of the picker around the apple, so that the stem will come between the fingers; the apple i th pulled on", and drops directly into the basket, from thence into the bag of the picker. The guard wires B vent the fruit from falling oifat one side, at the same time they offer no obstruction to the passing ofthe fruit tothe claw; the front wires being made short, as above stated, allow sufiicient space for the a i f h largest apple. Small fruits, such as cherries, &c., may be gathered by this implement, as above said, by having the fingers placed closer together. It can also be used for picking nuts, and for which purpose it is ,equally well adapted. By the use of the bag or sleeve referred to, if made of suflicient length to reach the hand of th person, the fruit can be taken at once ,from the bag, without the necessity of lowering the picker for that pose. Hence, by these means, the most delicate fruit can be picked and dropped to the hand without the le st danger of bruising b he fall. This implement being made of open wire-work, enables the operator t see the fruit through it, and by this be enabled to grasp the fruit without difiiculty.

What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The guards B, of unequal lengths, and single curved fingers B, connected with the hoops combination with the socket rings F, bag D, and staff or handle, the purpose specified.

Ais a pair of wide rings or ket of loose open-work, the basket, and may be of which being or bands A, in arranged in relation to each other as and for GEORGE S. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

W. H. Bummmn, I. HOLMES.

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